NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) PURPOSE AND NEED STATEMENT - - PDF document

Mount Joy Borough Complete Streets Implementation Guide – Lancaster County Smart Growth Transportation Program Funding

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) PURPOSE AND NEED STATEMENT

The Mount Joy Borough Complete Streets Implementation Guide will result in plans and programs that are consistent with the comprehensively planned development of Mount Joy

• Borough. And, will integrate transportation, land use, and environmental considerations while

implementing this Complete Streets Guide. There are existing trails that start and end within Mount Joy Borough, with no connection to pedestrian corridors. Many residential neighborhoods do not have sidewalks within them or connect to destinations, which are not safe and inviting for all users to safely move along and across a street. The Amtrak line is a barrier to bicycle connectivity especially in the Florin section of Mount Joy Borough. The only crossing is via the Angle Street bridge, which has no shoulder, heavy truck traffic, and high vehicle speeds. Mount Joy Borough needs to provide for the opportunity for all users of transportation to build on the Borough’s existing assets, and develop target businesses such as outdoor recreation retailers, casual restaurants, and cultural and historic sites. Mount Joy Borough needs to create environments where people can walk, bike and use transit safely, which will result in vibrant commercial areas and residential neighborhoods that produce economic, health and social benefits for the Borough. Mount Joy Borough’s project will provide ways for the safe, efficient and convenient movement of people and goods while enhancing the economy. Mount Joy Borough needs to develop aesthetically pleasing, interconnected transportation systems that encourage walking, biking and public transit, and discourage high- speed traffic. Mount Joy Borough needs to increase compact, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use development in Urban Growth Areas (UGAs), and require action to provide greenspace amenities to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit service in and around UGAs. This project will allow for the Guide to assist with showing how the Borough can provide for these amenities and complete connectivity in and around UGAs. Mount Joy Borough needs to provide for ways to complete streets, therefore supporting the needs of the community and encouraging healthy lifestyles. This project will assist in providing ways to create non-motorized transportation to the elderly, youth and disabled who rely more heavily on non-motorized transportation. The purpose of this project is to provide for ways to complete streets, creating a safe environment for pedestrians and bicyclists, while contributing to a more equitable transportation system for people of all income levels, ages and abilities. This project will provide a purpose and a guide for the governing body of Mount Joy Borough, to budget for transportation projects for all users, and provide for greenspace amenities.

MOUNT JOY BOROUGH COMPLETE STREETS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE

MOUNT JOY BOROUGH COMPLETE STREETS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE GOALS

1. Create an interconnected network of streets, sidewalks, and other transportation facilities that safely accommodate all users and introduce physical activity into the daily lives of those who live in and visit the Borough. 2. Incorporate Complete Streets into the planning, design, and operation of future transportation projects whether new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or pavement resurfacing and restoration. 3. The Borough wants to create “great streets” – the public places that encourage people to linger on foot, meet with neighbors, and engage in public life. 4. Assist in creating a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community, which through biking and walking can help prevent heart disease and other chronic health conditions. 5. Assist with improving streetscapes on our Main Street corridor.

MAIN STREET (R230)

PROBLEMS AND ISSUES PROJECT CAN ADDRESS

• There are existing trails that start and end

with no connection to pedestrian corridors.

– Musser Road, from Wood Street to Donegal Springs Road.

PROBLEMS AND ISSUES PROJECT CAN ADDRESS CONTINUED

• Many residential neighborhoods do not have

sidewalks within them or connect to destinations, which are not safe and inviting for all users to safely move along and across a street.

– School Lane – PA 230/N. Angle Street

PROBLEMS AND ISSUES PROJECT CAN ADDRESS CONTINUED

• The Amtrak line is a barrier to bicycle

connectivity especially in the Florin section of Mount Joy Borough. The only crossing is via the Angle Street bridge, which has no shoulder, heavy truck traffic, and high vehicle speeds.

– Angle Street and Union School Road, from PA 230 to PA 772.

WHY A COMPLETE STREETS GUIDE?

Attract new commercial and retail business to increase tax base Increase residential values Improve public heath through active transportation Reduce traffic congestion

BENEFITS:

2011 DONEGAL REGION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GOALS

SUPPORT THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY & SUPPORT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, INCLUDING ATHLETICS, WALKING & BIKING INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS TO WALK CYCLE &TAKE TRANSIT FOR ALL TRIPS GENERATE PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM

2011 DONEGAL REGION COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OBJECTIVES

• “Emerald Necklace” around the perimeter of Mount Joy.
• Construct bicycle shelters and adequate bike parking areas.
• Designate key corridors leading to the train station and school

campus for bicycle and pedestrian enhancements, and improve access using the Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School model.

• Improve streetscape connections between the Mount Joy

train station, Main Street, and key destinations in Mount Joy.

• Develop a Master Plan for the Little Chiques Creek Greenway

and Trail consistent with the County’s Greenscapes Plan.

POSITIVE IMPACT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Provide for the opportunity for all users of

transportation to build on the Borough’s existing assets, and develop target businesses such as

• utdoor recreation retailers, casual restaurants,

and cultural and historic sites.

• Create environments where people can walk, bike

and use transit safely, which will result in vibrant commercial areas and residential neighborhoods that produce economic, health and social benefits for the Borough.

LANCASTER COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

• The County’s vision for the future is a place where the

City is the center of business and activity, and the boroughs and small villages are characterized by revitalized Main Streets that preserve the traditions and heritage of the County.

– The Borough’s project will support this goal by providing ways for the safe, efficient and convenient movement of people and goods while enhancing the economy. – By following this Guide when planning for a project, the Borough will be consistent with the County Comprehensive Plan by working towards developing aesthetically pleasing, interconnected transportation systems that encourage walking, biking and public transit, and discourage high‐speed traffic.

LANCASTER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, CONNECTIONS 2040: 2016 UPDATE

• GOAL

– Target transportation investments to support Smart Growth which manages growth that sustains the local economy, improves environmental quality, and enhances quality of life.

• Focus on transportation investments while supporting the Donegal

Region Comprehensive Plan Land Use Goals.

– Strengthening the Borough’s tax base. – Provide for cost effective development and services. – Increase commercial and industrial land uses in the Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) (An urban growth boundary (UGB) is a way to “contain, influence,

• r direct growth to specific geographical locations) that provide for

employment and helps reduce municipal and school district budget constraints. – Provide for greenspace amenities to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists and transit service in and around the UGAs.

LANCASTER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, CONNECTIONS 2040: 2016 UPDATE cont.

• Donsco Rezoning ‐ The Official Map indicates a multi‐use path and trail which

lends to a pedestrian corridor and bike lane. This encourages pedestrian/bicycle connections to allow residents of UGAs to access recreational amenities and other destinations, which is a strategy of this goal.

LANCASTER COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLAN, CONNECTIONS 2040: 2016 UPDATE cont.

• GOAL

– Improve safety for all user of the transportation system. Safety and security for all users must remain a high priority in transportation planning and investment.

• The Guide will include creating a Complete Streets Policy. By implementing a

complete streets policy, safety for pedestrians and bicyclists improves.

• Assists to reduce the number of crashes and fatalities which is a strategy of

this goal.

• The Mount Joy Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance

requires the applicant or landowner to be responsible for construction of a trail shown on the Official Map, Park and Recreation Plan, or Comprehensive Plan.

• Borough requires bicycle parking as part of a major or new land development

plan, which assists with the development of safe and convenient bicycle and pedestrian accommodations for every trip, and for all levels of ability which is a strategy of this goal.

• The project will contain a menu of options to consider for specific streets

identified as critical pedestrian and bicycle corridors on the Official Map.

SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT IN DESIGNATED GROWTH AREAS

DONEGAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

– An objective to increase compact, pedestrian‐friendly, mixed‐ use development in UGAs, and requires action to provide greenspace amenities to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit service in and around UGAs.

• This project will allow for the Guide to assist with showing how the

Borough can provide for these amenities and complete connectivity in and around UGAs.

– An objective to insure the quality, compatibility, and character

• f new development, and requires action to complete street

design standards to redevelopment or new development within the UGAs.

• This project will assist with developing standards to implement, which

can be applied to improve the functionality and appearance as new development and redevelopment occurs in the UGAs.

BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN/TRANSIT PROJECTS MAP

LANCASTER COUNTY BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN

• Identified mid‐term projects (pedestrian improvement

corridors (sidewalks, crossing improvements, and/or multi‐use paths): – Angle St./ Union School Rd. from PA 230 to PA 772. – Musser Rd. from Donegal Springs Rd. to Wood St. – Lefever Rd. from PA 230 to PA 772. – PA 772 from Market St. to PA 283. – PA 230 from Lefever Rd. to Eby Chiques Rd.

PA 230 from Lefever Rd. to Eby Chiques Rd.

INCREASE MOBILITY BY PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES TO SINGLE OCCUPANT DRIVING, PARTICULARLY ELDERLY AND DISABLED

• This project will provide for ways to complete streets,

therefore supporting the needs of the community and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

• The elderly, youth and disabled rely more heavily on non‐

motorized transportation.

• This project will provide for ways to complete streets, creating

a safe environment for pedestrians and bicyclists, while contributing to a more equitable transportation system for people of all income levels, ages and abilities.

ENCOURAGE PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

• LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH

– Mount Joy Borough received letter of support for this project.

• Future partnering opportunities with Lancaster General

Health which is dedicated to improving the health of the community.

COMMITTMENT

• By creating a Complete Streets

Implementation Guide, and adopting a Complete Streets policy, Mount Joy Borough will be making a commitment to create streets that are safe and convenient for everyone.